Many of us managed to get through school with just the most basic grammar knowledge. Having the ability to communicate and write well enough to get our message across was usually enough to make even the most grammatically challenged student look like a decent writer. I remember being shocked when my college English teacher returned my essay, covered in red marks and the words "great job". How could I be a great writer when my returned paper was covered in red marks pointing out punctuation and grammar errors? My writing would have been all the better if I had used proper grammar and the correct punctuation. Grammar and punctuation are important because they help define the meaning of the words. Fortunately, for new students and those of us who need a primer, it is not too late to brush up on our grammar skills. Let's start at the beginning. Communication is made of sentences. If you can put together a proper sentence, your communication will be clear. Communication is ...